The Government of Maharashtra has issued an official order withdrawing the 5% reservation that was earlier granted to the Muslim community under the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category in education and government jobs.
The quota, introduced in 2014 through an ordinance, provided reservation benefits to certain sections of the Muslim community in admissions to educational institutions and recruitment in government and semi-government services. However, the ordinance was not converted into a permanent law within the stipulated time and eventually lapsed.
Following this, the state government has now formally cancelled all related government resolutions and administrative processes linked to the 5% reservation. This includes discontinuing the issuance of caste certificates and stopping admissions or job benefits under that category.
The decision aligns official policy with the current legal position, as the earlier provision had faced legal challenges and did not remain in force.
Although the government has presented the move as a procedural correction, it is expected to spark political discussion across the state. The original 5% quota had been introduced as a measure aimed at improving access to education and public employment for economically and socially disadvantaged sections within the Muslim community.
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